Automobile.



L A INGRAM & W. P. HATCH.

' AUTOMOBILE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4, 79M.

Patented Dec. 11, 191?.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

1 A. INGRAM & w. P. men.

AUTOMOBILE. APPLICATION my: MAR. 4, m4.

1-,249Q760. Patented Dec.11,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- sw Jflfijram J. A. INGRAM & WLP, HATCH.

AUTOMOBILE. APPLICATION FILED MAR.4, 19M.

Patented Dec. 11, 1917. I

L m w 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

llll

lit"

fill

Jl'USlEPI-f A. INGRAM AND WALTER, .P. HATCH, E NIEW lZUlEtli, N. '35., ASSIGNUIEWQIMI'U INGRAM HATCH lliOlUlld; UOJEEJPOBvAilTI-UN, 01E lbl'l -llllf 'lllfmftliil, Til.

AUTOMOBILE.

fipecification of Letters Hatent.

Patented Dec. it, 191% Application ,filfid. March 41, 1914.. Serial No. 82%,353.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that we, Josnrrr A. llnonAM and l'VAL'rnn P. HATCH, citizens of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

'lhis invention relates to improvementsin automobiles and has for its object to pro vide an improved drive mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to pro" vide a friction drive mechanism and control therefor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lever controlled starting mechanism for automobiles.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a lever controlled variable speed friction gear for automobiles, etc.

Still another object of the invention is to provide automatic means for disengaging the driving mechanism of an automobile from one or the other of the drive wheels as the machine takes a curve.

ll ith the above and other objects in view which will hereinafter appear and be fully described, we have invented the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a chassis embodying our invention,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation on line flc'fh of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a section on line li -B of Fig. 6 partly broken away,

Fig. 1 is an enlarged detail sectional view of a friction disk,

is a section on line C-C of ll ig. 1,

Fig. 6 is another top plan view of the device one part of the invention being eliminated and Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view taken on line D D of 6.

like reference characters indicate. like parts throughout the specification and in the several views in the drawings in which 1 indicates an automobile chassis mounted upon rear wheels 2 and 3 and the forward. wheels 4 and 5 which are connected through their knuckles 6 and 7 and the steering rod 'lfhe wlmels 2 and El are mounted on axle shafts 9 and i0 upon the inner." parts of which are slidably mounted rotatably fixed friction gears 11 and 12 swiveled to carriers 13 and it to which are pivotally connected arms 15 and 16 of the toggle 17 which is operated by a horizontally movable toggle operator 18 connected to a vertically disposed shifting lever 19.

Mounted upon the forward part of the chassis 1 is an engine 20 havin a shaft 21 the end of which is mounted 1n the member 25 which also forms a bearing for the shafts 2-4; and 25. The shaft 21 is provided with. a gear wheel 26 which operates the gear 27 mounted on the shaft 22 i and also the transm' sion gears :28 and 29 which in turn drive the gear 30 on the shaft. @n the outer ends of the shafts and 25 are collars El and which rotate with the shafts upon which they are mounted. Finedly mounted on these collars are bevel facedfriction disks and 3 1 the bevel faces of which are adapt ed to frictionally en age and rotate the gears 11 and 12. The central portions of the disks 33 and 34 are dished to form recesses 35 which when opposing the edges of the gears .11 and 12 prevent contact between the 11 and 12, 33 and 34; whereby the gears 33 and may freely rotate without transmitting movement to said gears 11. and 12. The axle members 9 and 10 are provided with longitudinal slots and 8'?" in which feathers (not shown) on the disks 11 and 19; are slidable whereby said members 11. and 12 may be moved longitudinally of the shafts 9 and 10, but may not rotate without rotating said shafts. The operation of the lever 19 in one direction or another will cause the toggle member 17 to slide said gears 11 and 12 longitudinally of said axles 9 and 10 in order to cause the edges of said gears to oppose different portions of the beveled faces of said gears 33 and 3 1, wheeby thespeed of said gears 11 and 152 may be varied or the movement thereof discontinued altogether.

The collars 31 and 32 have enlargements 38 and 39 in which spiral springs ill oncompass the shafts 24k and 25,. one end of said springs engaging the flanges 11 of said shafts and the other ends engaging collars 453 slidably mounted on said shafts, said collars abutting the shoulders 4-3 on the collars 3'1 and 39) whereby the latter collars and the gears thereon are n rnially forcedlib Elli

Elli

lltlll toward the gears 11 and 12. Feather eonneetions as between the shafts 24 and 25 on the collars 31 and 32 are provided in order to permit a sliding movement of said collars on said shafts while locking said collars 31 and 32 and said shafts in rotatable connec tion. The enlargements 3S and 39 are swiveled to the portions 31 and 32 as indicated at whereby the portions 31 and 82 may be freely rotated with the shafts 2% and 25 While said enlargements 38 and 39 are held against rotationv by means of the links 46 and 47 which are fixed thereto. The other ends of these links-are fixed to the levers 4L8 and 49 which in turn are connected to the operating rods 50 and 51. The forward ends of'these latter rods are connected to levers 52 and 58 which are operated loy'links 54: and 55 connected to a rod 56 the opposing ends of which are pivoted at 57 and 58 to the free ends of the levers 59 and 60 which operate the knuckles 6 and 7. By means of this arrangement the turning of the wheels *1: and 5 outwardly will draw the rod 50 or 51 forward to such an extent that the gear 33 or 34 is drawn out of contact with its cooperating gear 11 or 12 whereby the rotation of the axle shafts 9 and 10 on the side to which the car is turning will not be rotated untilthe car begins to go straight ahead again when the gear 33 or 3 1 will be thrust back against its cooperating gear 11 or 12. This driving mechanism is so extremely simple that comparatively very few parts are required and the car may be readily controlled with a single lever, thus greatly sim plifying the construction and operation of an automobile.

Having now described our invention, that which we claim to be new and desire to procureby Letters Patent is: 1

1. In a device of the kind described, in combination, a two section drive shaft upon which vehicle drive wheels are directly mounted, a steering device, a pair of drive gears mounted one on each of said drive shaft sections, a pair of gears engagcable with said first-named gears at right angles, shaftsiupon' which said last-named gears are fixed, members sliding on said last-named shafts, springs carried by said last-named shafts pressing against said drive gears to cause them to rotatesaid' first-named gears, said members engaging said springs to disengage them, and means for actuating said members, said means controlled by said steering device.

2. In a device of the kind described, in combination, two longitudinal shafts, a drive gear. slidable-"on each of said shafts, driven gears arranged to be engaged by said drive gears, springs arranged to exert pressure against said drive gears, means connected to said longitudinal shafts arranged to hold said spring, a pair of steering wheels,

means engaging said spring whereby to disengage them, and means controlled by said wheels for operating said last-named means.

3. In a device of the kind described, in combination, two longitudinal shafts, drive gears mounted on said shafts, driven gears connected to said drive gemis, means for rotating said shafts in common, a collar formed on each of said shafts, a spring roiled around said shafts and bearing against said collars at one end, slidable members on said shafts, rotating therewith and comicclcd to said drive gears, said spring engaging said members to force said drive gears against said driven gears, and means to disengage either spring.

4. In a device of the kind described. in combination, two shafts arranged at right angles to each other, a drive and driven gear mounted on said shafts respectively, a collar slidable on one of said shafts and, carrying said drive gear, a spring-holding member surrounding said drive shaft. and being slidable thereon, said collar rotating with said drive shaft, :1 lixcd collar on said shaft in said member, a spring engaging said collar to press said drive gear against said driven gear, said member arranged to disengage said spring when actuated, and means for actuating said member.

5. In combination a driven shaft, a driven gear thereon, a drive shaft at right angles tovsaid driven shaft, a drive gear, a collar slidably rotating with said drive shaft, said drive gear being connected to said collar. a spring holding enlargement surrounding the drive shaft, a collar fixed on said drive shaft against which said spring bears, a movable collar on said drive shaft against which said spring presses, said first-named collar and second-named collar inter-engaging, said member designed to engage said second named collar whereby to disengage said collars, and means for actuating said member.

6. In a device as described, in colnbination, a shaft, a spring-holding member slidable thereon, a collar fixed on said shaft. a spring coiled around said shaft and bearing against said collar at one end, a drive gear, means engaged by said spring and ongaging said gear, a driven gear engaged by said drive gear, a lever, a link conncctingsaid lever and said member whereby said lllolllher may be slid, and means for actuating said lever.

7. The described device embracing a two section axle, a driven gear on each section,

a pair of drive shafts, gears rotatable therewith for driving said first gears and slidably mounted on their respective sha fls, said last gears being spring pressed. housings for said springs, said housings bring slidziblo on said drive shafts, and adapted to oporate said drive gears against the action ol' lll lid

said springs, means for operating said housings, and a pair of steering wheels and means whereby said wheels may operate said housings.

8. lhe described device embracing a two section axle, a driven gear on each section, a pair of drive shafts, gears rotatable therewith for driving said first gearsand slidably mounted on their respective shafts, said last gears being spring pressed, housings for said springs, said housings being slidable on said drive shafts, and ada iited to operate said drive gears against the action of said. springs, means for operating said housings, a pair of steering wheels and means where by said wheels may operate said housings, said housings and gears connected therewith being independently operable.

9. The described device embracing a two section axle, a driven gear on each section, a pair of drive shafts, gears rotatable therewithfor driving said first gears and slidably mounted on their respective shafts, said last gears being spring pressed, housings for said springs, said. housings being slidable on said drive shafts, and adapted to operate said drive gears against the action of said springs, means for operating said housings, a pair of steering wheels and means whereby said wheels may operate said housings, said housings and gears connected therewith being independently operable whereby the movement of said wheels in one direction will actuate one of said housings.

10. The described device embracing a two section axle, a driven gear 011 each section, a pair of drive shafts, gears rotatable therewith for driving said first gears and slidably mounted on their respective shafts, said last gears being spring pressed, housings for said springs, said housings being slidable on said drive shafts, and adapted to operate said drive gears against the action of said springs, means for operating said housings, a pair of steering wheels and means whereby said wheels may operate said housings, said housings and gears connected therewith being independently operable whereby the movement of said wheels in one direction will actuate one of said housings, and the movement of said wheels in another direction will actuate the other housing.

11. lfn a vehicle, independently driven axles, independent driving means therefor, independent controlling means for the axles, means whereby the steering wheels of the vehicle control said last means, said driving means consisting of rotatable disks, said disks being spring controlled.

12. In a vehicle, independently driven axles, independent driving means therefor, independent controlling means for the axles, means whereby the steering wheels of the vehicle control said last means,'said driving means consisting of rotatable disks, said disks being spring controlled, and housings for said springs, said last means operating said housings.

13. In a vehicle, independently driven axles, indepei'ulent driving means therefor, independent controlling means for the axles, means whereby the steering wheels of the vehicle control said last means, said driving means consisting of rotatable disks, said disks being spring controlled, housings for said springs, said last means operating said housings to control said disks.

14. In a vehicle, independently driven axles, independent driving means therefor, independent controlling means for the axles, means whereby the steering wheels of the vehicle control said last means, said driving means consisting of rotatable disks, said disks being spring controlled, housings for said springs, said last means operating said housings to control said disks, and friction gears on said axles operated by said. disks.

15. in a vehicle, independently driven axles, independent driving means therefor, independent controlling means for the axles, means whereby the steering wheels of the vehicle control said last means, said driving means consisting of rotatable disks, said disks being spring controlled, housings for said springs, said last means operating said housings to control said disks, friction gears on said axles operated by said disks, said gears being slidable on said axles.

16. In a vehicle, independently driven axles, independent driving means therefor, independent controllii'ig means for the axles, means whereby the steering wheels of the vehicle control said last means, said driving means consisting of rotatable disks, said disks being spring controlled, housings for said springs, said last means operating said housings to control said disks, friction gears on said axles operated by said disks, said gears being slidable on said axles, and means for simultaneously operating said gears.

17. In a vehicle, independently driven axles, independent driving means therefor, independent controlling means for the axles, means whereby the steering wheels of the vehicle control said last means, said driving means consisting of rotatable disks, said disks being spring controlled, housings for said springs, said last means operating said housings to control said disks, friction gears on said axles operated by said disks, said gears being slidable on said axles, means for simultaneously operating said gears, said means consisting of a lazy tong having arms connecting with each gear.

18. In a vehicle, a pair of rotatable rear axles, friction wheels thereon, friction disks for rotating the same and means whereby the steering wheels of the vehicle connect ll lid and disconnect said disks from the friction wheels, driven shafts upon which disks are mounted, and slid-able collars on said shafts, said means being connected with said collars.

19. In a vehicle, a pair of rotatable rear aXles,friction Wheelsthereon, friction disks for rotating the same and means whereby the steering wheels of the vehicle connect and disconnect said disks from the friction wheels, driven shafts upon which disks are mounted, and slidable collars on said shafts, said means loeing'connected with said collars, the drive wheels of the Vehicle being fixedly mounted upon said axles.

20. In a vehicle, a pair of rotatable rear axles, friction wheels thereon, friction disks for rotating the same and means whereby the steering wheels of the vehicle connect and disconnect said disks from the friction wheels, said means consisting of a series of pivotally connected levers and links.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH A. lNtl 1AM. \VALTER P. I UJH ll'l. lVitnesses FRANK lVAAsnR, BJAME Ivnnsnn.

Copies 'of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. Q. 

